Chapter 25
Eva
The rest of the week passed in a blur of work, baking, too many hours watching online craft hacks and far too few spent basking in the warmth and vitality of the landscape outside.
Only, the most noticeable thing of my week wasn’t that, but the fact that Cooper lingered more.
He didn’t sneak out at night and even joined me in the kitchen while I baked.
Never interrupting - he knew I wouldn’t take my headphones off anyway - but just watching.
A quiet observer, always ready to taste whatever I handed him and never failing to ask how many cups of love I put into each.
It was a routine I was becoming accustomed to a little too easily.
Our conversations were deeper, and his moods were less haphazard.
I’d fallen asleep not long after we left Mum’s house the other night, which wasn’t the worst thing as him realising I’d been baking his birthday treats every freaking year was more than a little embarrassing.
Humiliating realisations aside though, living with him was easy and came with the added bonus of using his extraordinary kitchen whenever I wanted.
The plate of whatever sweet I baked, always demolished within a day or two bringing me a sick amount of joy.
Combined, the routine was something I could see myself doing indefinitely - a thought I needed to squash immediately - because this arrangement had an expiration date.
For now, I was absolutely exhausted and heading home alone from work this afternoon wasn’t the worst thing - I’d already planned to wash my hair and curl up with a movie.
But the moment Xavi found out I’d be on my own, my phone buzzed with his message inviting himself over.
Any chance of solitude disappeared with his promises of a good laugh and a round of Crattegories, and I quickly sent him the address before turning my thoughts to what I’d cook.
Cooper’s house wasn’t even close to being mine, so I’d sent him a quick message asking if it was okay to have someone over and when he’d replied simply with an, of course, I felt a deep sense of comfort.
Comfort in knowing while he was dragging my thoughts through every shade of the emotional spectrum, whatever I asked was never too much.
Xavier was equally elated at being able to peruse the place while Coop wasn’t here, although offensively disappointed at the same time.
“You could at least pretend you’re here to see me,” I grumbled as he swatted my arse and walked ahead as if he knew where he was going.
“Love you, but need to see the den of our favourite anti-hero,” he stated, peeping into each open door, making sounds which were less sightseeing and more dramatic performance art.
I trailed behind, pointing over his shoulder in various directions, rattling off where things were before we finally made it back to the kitchen.
I’d been on autopilot since I got home, and my wet hair was testament to how little time I’d actually had before he arrived.
It wouldn’t have surprised me to hear he’d been camped out front waiting for an opportunity like this.
“Excuse the homeless look but you gave me approximately twenty-two seconds notice for your visit.” I scowled, gesturing to my struggling university-student attire.
My contacts were hastily put in at the very last minute and I’d thrown on a pair of old shorts and a crop jumper.
Ignoring my self-deprecation, Xavi was openly admiring the kitchen and its surroundings.
“Evangeline Micallef - soon to be Dane - you did not inform me your sugar daddy had such impeccable taste.” Xavier picked up one of Cooper’s watches sitting atop the counter, holding it against his own wrist.
“He’s two years older than me, it’s hardly a sugar daddy situation,” I replied, tossing the vegetables in the frypan.
“In my head he’s a silver fox who knows his way around your barrels,” his voice trailed off before he gasped so loud, I jumped. “Look at that view,” he squeaked, pointing towards the backyard and I snorted with laughter.
“You scared the shit out of me, Xav,” I reprimanded without heat. “Gorgeous, isn’t it? How am I going to live in squalor after this? Maybe I will need a sugar daddy,” I joked, and he nodded sympathetically.
“Got it. I’ll sign us both up for one of those online forums. We expect nothing less than whiskey, regret and this calibre of glamour.” He added and I chuckled.
“I can’t even consider dating right now, even if it does come with those things,” I replied honestly.
I wasn’t even sure how I ever thought I would be able to clean houses and travel to and from Moorway each day while working.
Most evenings I was shattered and that was with living fifteen minutes from work and no other commitments.
Xavi gasped, using the pivot as an opportunity to retell another failed date he’d been on recently which apparently cemented his decision never to date again - which he said at least twice per month - and I finished cooking while listening to the hilarious antics of Xavier Cratt.
“How’s the internship?” He asked as I dished the beef stir-fry I’d thrown together onto two plates and placed another portion into a container for Cooper to have later.
“Soooo good to finally be doing what I enjoy. But it's exhausting working such long hours too.” I added. “What about yours?”
He took a sip of his drink as he rolled his eyes. “Not great. The woman I’m working for is Miranda Priestly, only she has no taste, class, style, brains or money. And the company itself is a monolithic colosseum. So, you can imagine it’s a hoot,” he added with a raised brow.
“That sounds awful,” I sympathised around another forkful of stir fry. “Can you tell the uni and get a new placement?”
“Can you cover your mouth?” His disgust only made me laugh which meant my chewed food became more visible. “Has your fiancé seen his little animal eat?”
“Hundreds of times. Never even said anything,” I admitted.
“Imagine if Mr. and Mrs. Cruella de Vil saw you now,” he joked and I grinned, exaggeratedly chewing my food with a wider mouth.
“I’m not going to bother telling the uni.
I only have four more weeks anyway, I’ll survive.
” Xavi was unbelievably confident, but he also despised confrontation, meaning he was often not afforded the respect he deserved.
He was sharp and capable, his eye for detail the kind that would make him an amazing accountant and his lack of frustration over the situation only fuelled my own.
“That’s bullshit,” I snapped.
“You have such a filthy mouth now you’ve moved in with Mr. Whiskey-man. I’m telling Judes again.” He said with faux horror, just as I heard the distinct sounds of a motorbike.
I swung my head in the direction of the door, my cutlery clanging onto the table.
“Oh yesssss,” Xav hissed, immediately reading the scene for what it was. “Please tell me that is Prince Not-So-Charming in the flesh,” he coaxed, and I listened intently for confirmation of what I already knew.
When the bike shut off and the front door clicked open, I was entirely confused, only nodding in Xavier’s direction to confirm the owner of this luscious house was indeed home. He’d definitely said he had a few more hours of work, so it was unexpected to say the least.
“Behave,” I whispered, suddenly feeling ill-equipped and nervous.
I would have changed out of these daggy clothes for starters, and I definitely needed more time to prepare for my best boy meeting the man I’d glorified within an inch of his life.
The click of boots on floorboards was the only sound as Xavier and I collectively held our breath, staring at the hallway expectantly.
“Hey,” I pounced, the second Cooper rounded the corner looking as delectable as ever but sadly, wearing a shirt for once. His hair was wind swept from the bike, his eyes moving from Xavier to myself inscrutably. When he didn’t immediately respond, I wondered if something was wrong.
Even though he’d seemed fine less than an hour ago when I’d checked in to see if it was okay to have someone here, there was something in his stance which told me his opinion on that had since changed.
“You’re home earlier than I thought,” I fumbled, nervously trying to fill the silence.
“Yeah, wanted to get some stuff done before the storm hits.” He gestured outside towards the darkening clouds I hadn’t previously noticed.
His tone was ice cold, and I felt the heat rise up my neck in embarrassment.
“This is Xavier, Xavier this is Cooper,” I introduced hurriedly, desperate to fill the otherwise silent room.
Cooper glared between us again, taking in the table before nodding and walking over to Xavier.
“Nice to meet you,” he said with absolutely zero warmth before he held out a hand for him to shake - which at any other time, would have made me laugh given how much I knew Xavi would be melting.
Taking me by surprise, Xavier stood, returning the handshake in the most masculine display I’d ever seen from him – only when Cooper retreated, Xavi fanned himself behind his back mouthing ‘wow’ in my direction.
There he is, I thought, biting back a smile as I swivelled in my chair toward the man currently pretending to be deeply interested in the contents of the fridge.
“I left you a dish.” I pointed to the container I’d set aside with his food - not that he’d know because he kept his back to me.
“Thanks,” he eventually spoke, though there wasn’t a shred of gratitude in his voice as he headed out the back with nothing but a water bottle in hand.
Wide eyed, I spun to face Xav, a wind of fury pulsing underneath my skin.
“Girl, I need a tampy for my arousal. You didn’t tell me he was aggressively unhinged as well as rich,” he hissed, excitement dripping from his pores.
“I am so sorry.” I felt ashamed. So heavily mortified by Cooper’s disrespectful demeanour that I couldn’t even laugh at my friend’s joke.
“Why are you sorry?” He screeched, running to the blinds which separated us from the outdoors. “That was the hottest display of sexuality I’ve ever seen.”
“Xavier!” I snapped. “That was disgustingly rude,” I added apologetically. He really was so terrible at managing his emotions and his rudeness was bullshit and unacceptable.
“Oh, fuck awwfff,” he drawled, just as loud music began blasting from the backyard. “Evangeline Judith Micallef, get your fine fucking arse over here before I die,” he squeaked.
I was simmering, but there was an urgency in his voice which elicited a sigh as I joined him, my jaw almost hitting the floor.
“Do you think he’d be interested in a throuple? I would seriously consider entertaining the idea of tolerating an open wound for a man like that.” He dabbed at the non-existent sweat on his forehead dramatically and no longer able to contain my mirth, I cackled.
“Stop referring to the vagina as an open wound, you misogynistic dramatist. I’m so mad, I can’t – I’m – I’m spluttering,” I stammered, gobsmacked at the scene before me.
“Me too, babes, me too,” Xavi interjected, empathising with my inability to articulate. Because as cold and boorish as he’d just been, Cooper was outside - shirtless - in a pair of grey sweats - holding-
“Is that an axe?” Xav asked before making a noise like his lungs had short-circuited as every remaining particle of oxygen left my own lungs in the slowest, longest exhale known to man.
“In all my life…” Xavier whispered.
“I really want to be angry, but fuck me, that lumberjack persona is diluting my resolve. And lumberjack has ten letters.” I uttered quietly
“He is my new deity.” Xavi stated crossing himself as if physically confirming his proclamation. “And I can see his religion in those pants.”
“For God’s sake,” I mumbled, stifling another giggle. “We can’t let that body distract us, he was rude, right? Entirely disgusting, yes? I should go out there and–”
“Ask him to show you his wood? Absolutely,” Xavi interrupted, and I scowled.
“Seriously though, what is he doing? Why does he need wood?” I asked, immediately apologising to him, myself and my mum for my profanity. “I’ll add a few dollars to the jar.” I waved my hand in the air dismissively.
“If he is a logger, my log loving days are finally going to pay off because that lumberjack chopping is aggressively hot,” Xavier practically panted.
“Do you need a washcloth, because you’re drooling,” I gritted, wishing I too could share in the admiration rather than feel a mania rising up my oesophagus.
“And you’re about twenty-six seconds from full Eva-nado, and I say that affectionately.
Your swearing is impressive, and I feel as though I’m being tested with the questions firing out of you.
” He grinned, because nothing delighted him more than my meltdowns - the swearing and wild-eyed chaos always came next.
My chest was starting to heat which was my only indicator that anyone within the firing range should take cover.
“I’m going out there,” I snapped. “You deserve an apology. We both do. Come on!” Only Xav grabbed my hand, halting me.
“Babes, as much as I’d love to stay and watch, I’m leaving because that rain is only going to get worse.” I followed his pointed finger to the blackened sky. “But please call me and tell me everything the second you can and for the love of God, take some photos before you go out there.”
The side-eye I flung his way only made his smile bigger before he pulled me in for a quick hug.
“Evs, that man has some seriously intense feelings. Maybe he just needs someone to talk to.” His words penetrated the surface of my anger, but it wasn’t enough to eradicate how dismissive he’d been to my friend.
The same friend who was now defending him as if he deserved his empathy after the way he acted.
With one more deep sigh of appreciation, Xavi kissed me on the cheek and left as I shelved any potential sympathy and stormed outside.